O'ahu earns dramatic win in World Series

By Mary Beth Kozak
Special to The Advertiser

Jordan Oshiro scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the O'ahu Stars a 1-0 opening victory against Pine Bluff, Ark., in the Cal Ripken (12 years old) World Series yesterday at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Md.

After hitting a lead off single in the bottom of the sixth and final inning, Oshiro took second and third on passed balls with one out. Pine Bluff's pitcher, Claude Johnson, threw a wild pitch scoring Oshiro for the win.

"We got lucky and the baseball gods gave us the one run we needed today," O'ahu manager Gerald Oda said.

Despite the dramatic ending, this was a classic pitching duel between O'ahu left-hander Jarrett Arakawa and Johnson. Both pitchers went the distance and combined for 25 strikeouts.

Arakawa (1-0) finished with 13 strikeouts, scattering three hits.

"This is the best when you win a close game against one of the best teams here," Arakawa said.

"I'm relieved," Oda said. "Jarrett's been on a roll for us. He threw another great game. I'm just proud of our kids. I kept on our kids we have to keep battling."

O'ahu faces Greenwich, Conn., tomorrow.

PINE BLUFF 000 000—0 3 0
O'AHU 000 001—1 4 0

Claude Johnson and Brian Coleman; Jarrett Arakawa and Landon Yoshikawa. W—Arakawa; L—Johnson.

Pearl City wins Juniors World Series opener

Alika Pruett pitched a one-hitter and Kamuela Perry-Chong hit a three-run home run to help Pearl City defeat Massapequa Park, N.Y., 9-1, on the opening day of the Little League Junior League World Series at Taylor, Mich.

Pruett struck out six and walked one. Perry-Chong hit his homer in the third inning.

Pearl City plays Ankeny, Iowa, today.

Massapequa Park, N.Y. 001 000 0—1 1 0
Pearl City 060 030 x—9 6 1

Pearl City battery: Alika Pruett, Bryson Nakamura (6), John Abreu (7) and Nainoa Tampos.

Pearl City leading hitters: Kamuela Perry-Chong 3-4, double, 3-run homer, 5 RBIs; Abreu 2-4, single, double, 3 RBIs; Tampos double.